Photographic composing machine



Oct. 15, 1968 E. B. PLOOIJ 3,405,616

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1968 E. B. PLOOIJ PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSINGMACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 II lnl H II II INVENTOR DA'FD 5. JP;

wrfi u ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,405,616- PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING.MACHINE Edward Bernard Plooij, Willem III Straat 16,

. Zevenbergen, Netherlands Filed Dec. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 415,687 Claimspriority, application Netherlands, Dec. 5, 1963,

-3 Claims. (CI. 95-45 I, This invention relates to, a photographiccomposing machine witha number of type carriers, alight source forlighting each type carrier, alight sensitive film, on which the typeshave to be projected and means for allow: ing the light rays from anychosen type to move to said It is possible to give such a composingmachine a stationary optical system and stationary type carriers, sothat it is possible to compose rapidly and to avoid vibrations due tomovements of the optical system or of the type carriers. A difficulty insuch machines is that any type should be projected clearly in the sameplane of the film. This has been solved in a known prior composingmachine of the above given kind by having a separate lens for each type.

f It is an object of this invention to obtain a more simple and lessexpensive composing machine of the given kind.

The invention will now be described further with reference to theattached drawings. In said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view from above with parts broken away of a photooomposingmachine according to this invention in a preferred embodiment.

,FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-section through said machine.

FIGURE 3 is a diagram of the electric system.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of such a composing machine with part of theside wall broken away and in a somewhat different embodiment withrespect to FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 5 is in vertical section diagrammatically another possibility ofembodiment of the machine according to FIGURES 1 and 2. I I

FIGURE 6 gives in plan view diagrammatically the same change in themachine as given in FIGURE 5.

I The machine of FIGURES 1 and 2 has a casing 1, comprising a rigidcarrying casing'part with a bottom 2 with feet 3; an uprising front wall4, intermediate walls 7 and 8 and side walls 9 and 10. An upper Wall 6is rigidly connected to a back wall 5 and to parts of side walls andthese parts together are connected at 11 pivotally to the bottom 2, sothat this upper wall with connected parts may be lifted as a pivotingcover for inspection and repairs. In front of the stationary bottom part2 there is a bottom part 12, also provided with feet 3 and'rigidlysecured to a front wall part 13 and to adjacent parts of the side walls.These parts together are pivotally connected with the stationary bottom2 at 14, so that when the machine is turned over these parts may beopened as a cover, also for inspection and repairs.

In the front upper part of the machine there is a keyboard 15 with'keys16.

In the back part of the apparatus there is a space 17 for the electricalequipment.

Behind the keyboard 15 there is, guided by the intermediate wall 7, atype carrier body 18 with a number of small flash lamps'19 therein andprovided with a number of' types before the lamps, i.e. to the right ofthe lamps as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. In this case it is assumed thatthe types are openings in a non-transparent front layer. The typecarrier itself is also of non-transparent material, so that one lamp, iflighted, will not give rays through another type opening. Only a smallnumber of lamps and types are shown because othrewise the draw-3,405,616 Patented Oct. 15,1968

ing would become unclear, but it will beunderstood that there areusually as many of them as there are keys 16, The lamps and types couldbe made so small that a'sufiicient number of them can be positioned sideby side if the machine'has sufficient dimensions.

At some distance from this type carrier there is a lens 21, attached tothe lower side of the intermediary wall 7. The lamps 19 and the-lens 21are in an inclined position, the optical axis of the lens 21 beingindicated in FIGURE 2 by 22. Opposite each type at 20, to the oppositeside of the lens 21, is a vertical mirror 23, each mirror reflectingrays falling thereon back and downwardly as shown in FIGURE2 to theexposed part of a film 24. The film 24 in known mannerhas perforations,sothat it can be conveyed -by a wheel 25 with teeth engaging in saidperforations. The'mirrors 23 are arranged in a block with nontransparentparts to the sides thereof as shown. The film not only passes over thedriving r0ller'25, but also along a guide roller 26 and over reels 27and 28, said reels being driven and coupled in known way through aslip-clutch and a slipping elastic string or the like29, so that thereels 27 and 28 always tend to move the film in a certain direction, thetoothed wheel 25 determining, however, whether the film indeed moves andover what steps.

The roller 25 is fixed on a shaft extending vertically through theintermediate wall 8 and having an arresting wheel 30 with arrestingmeans 31 engaging in indentations therein, so that, if the roller 25 isnot driven, it is exactly kept stationary in predetermined positions.

The shaft of the roller 25 moreover has a wheel 32, having ratchet teethat its outer periphery, there being shown two pawls 33 moved to and froin known manner by the armatures of solenoids 34. The pawls 33 if movedare moved through mutually different paths, so that for different typesthe film can move over different distances. There are as many pawls 33with solenoids 34 as there are possible different steps for the filmtransport.

Above the intermediate wall 7 in the cover, formed by the top wall 6,there is a counter 35 for counting the number of steps of movement ofthe film and. for if desired giving a mark on the film after apredetermined number of steps. This counter could be driven by a switch36 shown in FIGURE 1 as being closed when a ratchet tooth of the wheel32passes it. f

The type carrier 18 is secured to columns 37.

If a lamp 19 is lighted the concerning type 20 is projected so that thelight rays from the lamp give an image of the concerning type 20 on thefilm 24 in a position immediately below the lens 21. To this end therays of this type are projected by the lens 21 onto the correspondingmirror 23 and reflected thereby towards the film 24 right below thelens. To ensure that all the types exactly give a clear image on thefilm the vertical mirrors 23 are positioned in such a way that theirhorizontal sections are perpendicular to the central ray falling thereonand are all pointing towards the point A being on the central mirror inthe optical axis of the lens 21. This is so because care has been takenthat all the types are positioned so and that the lens 21 is made sothat images of the types, if there were no vertical mirrors 23, are allon the periphery of a circuit, which has been shown in dot and dashlines and indicated by 38 in FIGURE 1. The point A is the midpoint ofthis circuit and so all the mirrors are halfway between the lens 21 andthe point where the central ray for each mirror 23 intersects thecircuit 38. The path of the rays from the mirror 23 to the film 24 is ofthe same length as it would be if there were no mirrors 23 and an imagewas formed on the periphery of the circle The electrical device will nowbe explained with reference to FIGURE 3.

In FIGURE 3 accents have been used to indicate the several parts, sothat the upper key is named 16', the next key 16" etc. up to 16 theswitches and relays belonging to a certain key having the same accentsbehind their numerals as the key to which they belong. This makes iteasy to read this drawing and to check which parts are operated bydepression of a certain key.

A suitable source of electric current, whether direct or alternatingcurrent, is connected with one pole to a number of electric lines 41,one for each key 16, these lines being mutually connected by. line 42 sothat electric current passing through one of the lines 41 is, allowed topass through line 42 to line 43 and from there. to the other pole of theelectric energy source. A line '44 is also connected to both poles ofsuch a. source. Each'key 16 when depressed operates a switch 46 to closethe line 41 and in each-line41 there is a relay 47, combined with theusual-means not shown to operate immediately upon closing of the switch46 but to fall off with a predetermined time lag after the closing ofcontact 46, independent of whether. this contact is kept closed during alonger or a shorter period.

Each relay 47 cooperates with switches 48, 49 and 50. The switches 48and 49 are for each type taken up in parallel lines both in contact atboth ends with the mentioned source of electric energy. In the line ofswitch 48 there is a flash lamp 19 as described with reference toFIGURES 1 and 2. In the line of switch 49 there is a relay 51 operatingswitches 52 and 53.

The mentioned switches 50 in line 44 are connected in series. They areclosed when relays 47 are not energized. The switches 52 are in parallelarrangement and are opened when the relays 51 are not energized. Theswitches 53 are in series connection and are closed when the relay 51 isnot energized.

The device 45in line 44 operates one of the solenoids 34 fortransporting the film or is itself such a solenoid. If this device 45 isenergized it moves the film over a predetermined distance through thepawl 33. When the device 45 is energized it opens a switch 54 in line43. In the relays 51 there is also a usual time lag device determiningthe retarded moment on which these relays will fall off after thebeginning of energization thereof, as is generally known to the expert.

As stated there could be two or more solenoids 34, each transporting thefilm over different lengths of path. All keys giving the same escapementpath are provided with a common electric system as shown in FIGURE 3, sothat there could be two or more of such systems, one for each solenoid34, if desired mutually combined in that each system has a switch inline 43 of the other systems and possibly also in line 44 thereof, inseries connection with the switches shown in said lines in FIGURE 3, toprevent for all the keys the lighting of the lamp when the film is beingtransported or when another lamp is also lighted.

The operation of the device of FIGURE 3 is as follows: as soon as a key16 is depressed so that its switch 46 is closed electric current flowsthrough the concerning line 41, through line 42 and through line 43.Thus the concerning relay 47 is energized, this relay thus closing thecooperating switches 48 and 49 and opening switch 50. The closing ofswitch 48 gives a flash of the concerning lamp 19, this flash lasting apredetermined period in which relay 47 remains energized independentupon the question whether the switch 46 is closed during a shorter orlonger period. As meanwhile the concerning switch 50 is opened by relay47 it is impossible to transport the film by the device 45, which isonly possible if a current passes through this device and through line44. As contact 49 is closed the concerning relay 51 is energized andthus switch 53 is opened and switch 52 is closed. It is thus impossibleby depressing another key 46 to project a second type on the film, whichwould require at least during a short moment a flow of electric energythrough the concerning line 41 and the lines 42 and 43, and as long asthe lamp 19 is lightedthe concerning switch 50 is opened, so that it isimpossible to transport the film. Thus the film remains stationaryduring the projection. As soon as relay 47 falls oif switch 48 isopened, so that the concerning lamp 19 isno more lighted,f"s'witch 49 isopened, but relay 51' remainsenergized during a short period by its timelag circuit, the concerning switch 50 closes again and because relay 51keeps one of the switches 52 closed during a short period'a current nowflows through line 44 and device 45 so that the film is transported. Assoon as the energization of device 45 begins switch 54 is opened, sothat it is impossible in this stage to light one of the lamps bydepressing one of the keys 16. Shortly thereafter the concerning relay51 fall s olf, so that the concerning'switch 52 is opened, the filmtransport is stopped and switch 54 is closed again, so'that it is nowpossible to depress the next key and project another type on the film.It will be clear that the entire process may take place in only a verysmall part of a second, such timelag being usual and known to theexpert;

FIGURE 4 gives the machine of FIGURES l and 2 as seen from the side withpart of the side wall broken away showing the parts of the machine whichare different from those in FIGURES 1 and 2. In this embodiment the typecarrier 18 has lamps 19 positioned horizontally, the types 20 beingpresent in a thin vertical part. The lens 21 has a horizontal opticalaxis and there is a prism 56 having reflecting surfaces 57 and 58 at anangle of 45 to a hori-. zontal plane and at a mutual angle of The pathsof the light rays 22 are clearly shown in FIGURE 4 and they do not movealong inclined paths with respect to a horizontal plane as in FIGURES land 2, but horizontally and vertically as shown. The prisms 56 could bereplaced by two mirrows with air inbetween, said mirrors extending alongthe planes 57 and 58. For each type or set of types one above the otherthere is a separate prism or set of mirrors, replacing the mirrors 23 ofFIGURES 1 and.2 as will be clear.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show another embodiment, showing' diagrammatically onlythe essential parts determining the path of the light. The machine couldfor the rest be the same as that of FIGURES l, 2 and 3 and thus has notbeen shown here in detail. The type carrier 18 is inclined again, andinstead of the lens 21 there is a hollow spherical mirror 59 with thecenter of its curvature being the point B. There are vertical mirrors23- as in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the film is in part shown in FIGURE 5,this film with its surface, on which the types are projected, beingexactly below the point B, the center of the hollow mirror 59.

Also in this embodiment the vertical mirrors 23 are in planes passingthrough point A, the center of circle 38 (FIG. 1), on which the imagesof the types would be if there were no mirrors 23. Thusit is notnecessary to apply a lens for each type.

Of course the machine could be combined with known punch tape or punchcard registration and/or operation known in type writing machine.

The light rays neednot necessarily be visible rays, but they could berays of ultraviolet or infrared light.

The film, instead of being positioned in the zones given in the drawingsbelow the lens or the center of, the spherical mirror could if desiredbe moved to amore preferred position, if only suitable means such as afurther mirror or a fluorescent screen transmit the light to the film,but if there are no such additional means the film should exactly be inthe position shown.

The position of the types 20 will depend upon struc: turalconsiderations and on the shape and characteristics of the lens 21 orthe curvature of the spherical mirror 59.

What I claim is:

1. A photographic composing machine comprising a Set of type carriers,light means associated with said type carriers for lighting each typecarrier, means energizing said light means to transmit light raysforward- 1y from any selected type carrier, a substantially sphericalmirror common to all types of the set of type carriers positionedforwardly of said type carriers for receiving the light rays from anyselected type carrier, a plane mirror for each type carrier positionedrearwardly of said type carriers for receiving the light rays from thecorresponding type carrier projected rearwardly from said sphericalmirror, a light sensitive film positioned forwardly of said planemirrors for receiving projected light rays from said plane mirrors, saidtype carriers and said spherical mirror being positioned so that theimages of the types made by the spherical mirror would lie on a circlethrough the exposed part of the film if the plane mirrors were absent,each plane mirror being perpendicular to and midway of a chord of saidcircle, said chord extending from the exposed part of said film to theimage on said circle of the corresponding type formed if the planemirrors were absent.

2. A photographic composing machine in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe type carriers, the sphere center of the spherical mirror and theplane mirrors are positioned at a distance from the plane of the saidcircle.

3. A photographic composing machine in accordance with claim 1,characterized in that the type carriers, the sphere center of thespherical mirror and the plane mirrors are positioned at a distance fromthe plane of the said circle, the plane mirrors including two reflectingsurfaces at an angle to one another reflecting the light rays twice tobridge the distance between the type carriers and the plane of the saidcircle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,417 11/1939 Huebner --4.52,600,168 6/1952 Klyce 954.5 2,663,232 12/ 1953 Drillick 95-4-52,764,071 9/ 1956 Huebner 95-45 2,900,884 8/ 1959 Coleman 95-4.53,003,406 10/1961 Sachs 95-4.5

JOHN M. HORAM, Primary Examiner.

1. A PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING MACHINE COMPRISING A SET OF TYPE CARRIERS,LIGHT MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TYPE CARRIERS FOR LIGHTING EACH TYPECARRIER, MEANS ENERGIZING SAID LIGHT MEANS TO TRANSMIT LIGHT RAYSFORWARDLY FROM ANY SELECTED TYPE CARRIER, A SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICALMIRROR COMMON TO ALL TYPES OF THE SET OF TYPE CARRIERS POSITIONEDFORWARDLY OF SAID TYPE CARRIERS FOR RECEIVING THE LIGHT RAYS FROM ANYSELECTED TYPE CARRIER, A PLANE MIRROR FOR EACH TYPE CARRIER POSITIONEDREARWARDLY OF SAID TYPE CARRIERS FOR RECEIVING THE LIGHT RAYS FROM THECORRESPONDING TYPE CARRIER PROJECTED REARWARDLY FROM SAID SPHERICALMIRROR, A LIGHT SENSITIVE FILM POSITIONED FORWARDLY OF SAID PLANEMIRRORS, SAID TYPE CARRIERS LIGHT RAYS FROM SAID PLANE MIRRORS, SAIDTYPE CARRIERS AND SAID SPHERICAL MIRROR BEING POSITIONED SO THAT THEIMAGES OF THE TYPES MADE BY THE SPERICAL MIRROR WOULD LIE ON A CIRCLETHROUGH THE EXPOSED PART OF THE FILM IF THE PLANE MIRRORS WERE ABSENT,EACH PLANE MIRROR BEING PERPENDICULAR TO AND MIDWAY OF A CHORD OF SAIDCIRCLE, SAID CHORD EXTENDING FROM THE EXPOSED PART OF SAID FILM TO THEIMAGE ON SAID CIRCLE OF THE CORRESPONDING TYPE FORMED IF THE PLANEMIRRORS WERE ABSENT.